Communities in Delta County have long been empowered by the dedication of individuals who have willingly donned the uniform of the U.S. armed forces, with nearly 3,000 veterans playing a steady and visible role in local civic life across generations.

In many respects, military significance in this locality is far from an abstract national concept — it is manifested in residents, co-workers and even leaders whose time in service continues to carry meaning long after their retirement. And that enduring legacy is precisely what the National Military Appreciation Month seeks to celebrate each May.

However, beyond public recognition, the observance also invites broader contemplation on the detrimental realities that silently accompany this career, specifically the health repercussions of toxic exposure at numerous military facilities. Recognizing these elements is critical to ensuring that appreciation is not constrained to symbolism alone but is likewise translated into noteworthy action–a pursuit advanced by policy innovations such as the Veterans Exposed to Toxic (VET) PFAS Act, which intends to boost aid for affected troops.

The burden of toxic exposure

Although military service is most often associated with the visible acts of duty and readiness, some of its consequential risks are far less apparent since they unfold gradually and silently. And notable among these are the environmental and occupational exposures frequently encountered in the course of routine operations. Unlike immediate combat-related injuries, these hazards are often cumulative in nature, with health impacts not surfacing until years — or even decades — later, thereby complicating both diagnosis and recognition.

Regrettably, this pattern is not without precedent, as such has already been demonstrated by the long history of asbestos use across military infrastructure throughout the country. For much of the 20th century, this natural mineral was greatly valued for its durability as well as thermal stability and low cost. As such, its presence became indispensable in the production of naval ships, aircraft, housing units, and many other facilities like those at the Calumet Air Force Station, about 200 miles from Escanaba. Yet what was once considered an integral material eventually revealed a more serious legacy, as many exposed veterans began developing serious illnesses.

Further, a similar trajectory is increasingly evident today in the case of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of artificial compounds commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” Since their widespread industrial adoption beginning in the 1950s, these compositions have already been employed across a range of applications for their ability to withstand heat, water, and chemical interference. Within military operations, these properties led to their integration into the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to enhance their capability to combat fuel-based fires. However, persistent utilization of this tool has tragically tainted the groundwater of roughly 20 bases in Michigan, particularly the K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, northwest of Delta County. This means troops deployed at these sites may have consumed a substantial amount of PFAS without even knowing it, putting them at higher risk of various types of cancer.

Pushing for the VET PFAS Act

Despite mounting scientific evidence linking PFAS to serious and long-term health effects, numerous veterans who may have been exposed nationwide continue to face substantial barriers in accessing care and benefits, mainly because their conditions are not yet widely recognized under presumptive service connection frameworks. With this persistent hurdle, affected personnel are still compelled to establish a direct causal link between their diagnosis and service record — an evidentiary burden that is especially difficult given the long latency of many related diseases and the limited documentation of historical exposure conditions. Alarmingly, this stands in contrast to other service-related cases that have already been addressed through more established recognition systems, particularly under the Honoring Our PACT Act.

Within this evolving policy landscape, the VET PFAS Act has been introduced as a focused effort that seeks to expand access to specialized medical services and — where appropriate — disability compensation for veterans affected by PFAS exposure. At the core of the proposal is the creation of presumptive service connection for specific PFAS-related conditions associated with documented exposure, particularly through the historical use of AFFF in military firefighting operations. By easing the burden of proof shouldered by victims, the legislation reflects a broader recognition that these exposures were not incidental but embedded within routine service environments. More importantly, it also aligns with an emerging understanding that toxic exposure is nearly an inevitable reality of military service.

But though the VET PFAS Act represents a step forward in addressing a critical challenge, it remains pending in Congress. Advancing its enactment during this year’s National Military Appreciation Month would reaffirm that recognition of military service must also resonate beyond commemoration and into timely, evidence-based action. Ultimately, ensuring that veterans receive appropriate care for service-connected toxic exposures is not only a matter of policy–it is a measure of whether appreciation is fully matched with responsibility.

———

Cristina Johnson serves as a veteran advocate at the Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit that raises awareness of veterans’ exposure to toxic substances.